The Falcon Has Landed

Saturday we bundled Chris up, loaded the car with food, drugs, and chairs, picked up Lisa Chapin, and headed to Fort Point in the city to watch the Maltese Falcon sail in under the Golden Gate Bridge. It was an amazing day in the city with the temps in the mid-70's, no clouds, and it seemed like every sailor in the Bay Area was out on their boat. After sitting in traffic for almost 1.5 hours, we made it to Fort Point. Traffic karma paid off and someone was vacating a VERY busy parking lot as we were pulling in.

After getting the chairs all set up and prepared, we waited about 15 minutes at which point I saw the biggest mast I've ever seen on the outside of the bridge. The sailboats were swarming around, a fire boat was out, someone was rowing, and as the Falcon passed under the bridge, every sailboat jibed and all sailed on the same tack right next to the Falcon.



The Falcon is 289 feet long and the mast height is 190 feet tall. The bridge height above the water at low tide is 220 feet. It really was amazing to see regardless of that boat being a monstrosity of nature. Most of the boats sailing around her were 40+ feet long, and they looked like toys.

Lisa shopping for her new boat
After 45 minutes, we needed to get Chris back in the car and drugged up again, so we drove through Pacific Heights and head back over the Bay Bridge. We drove around Yerba Buena/Treasure Island, managed to drive right under the new part of the Bay Bridge they are building and into a Coast Guard check point (clearly, we were somewhere we weren't supposed to be).

It seemed no matter where we drove that day, we could see the Falcon. It loomed over the horizon, looking like tall buildings off in the distance. It finally anchored for the night in Sausalito and will be moving to Pier 35 in the city for some work and lots of private tours. I wish we could get on her, but no can do... you have to know Mr. Perkins, and as many people as I know, I don't think I can make it happen. I'm working on it though.

Another fine example of something fun to do in the Bay Area that was free (with the exception of the gas, which still cost us probably $20 all in all).